You Don't Know Me ~ An Arcane Fanfiction

An Uninterrupted Reunion, Finally

'Can't believe you still live in your parent's house, Cupcake,' Jinx scoffs. Caitlyn rolls her eyes so hard she thinks they might actually reach her brain. She tightens her grip on Jinx's ankles, and adjusts her position slightly for more balance. 'Bold words for someone standing on my shoulders,' she retorts sharply.  Letting out an exaggerated gasp of offense, Jinx pushes harder-than-necessary off of her back, scrambling up through the open window. Caitlyn swiftly follows, well-practiced in the art of sneaking into her own bedroom.

This earns a weird look from Jinx. 'Wow. How many girls have you snuck in here before this?' 

'Shut up.'

'Is Vi one of 'em?'

'Shut up,' Caitlyn spits, her tone firmly stating she was done with this conversation. Jinx doesn't seem to take the hint: a smug grin is still plastered to her face. Change the subject. 'Vi's in the room across the hall,' she says, suppressing her frustrations. Having been forced to make polite conversation with many an irritating aristocrat throughout her life, she had learnt to be good at hiding her... 'less desirable' emotions, as her mother had called them. 'Should I go with you, or can you handle yourself?'

But Jinx is already gone. And also, she has knocked over a vase. Caitlyn sighs in fond exasperation.

~~~

If anything, Vi was bored. Really bored. Not being able to move does that to a girl, especially one who, ordinarily, found it unbearable to stay in the same room for more than an hour or two. Back when she was a kid, she had realised, she didn't get the torturous, restless itch plaguing her these days. She attributes that to her time in Stillwater, those lonely years of isolation and confinement. Even now, months after her release, they weighed down on her mind like the steel batons the wardens used to beat her.

Now, confined to her bed, Vi likens her emotions to how she felt in those first few months of prison: trapped and uncomfortably vulnerable. A caged bird. Sleep had always proved elusive for her, and this only worsened it. Except, this time she wasn't quite so alone. So that makes it a little better, I guess.  She tosses over, suppressing a wince at the now-familiar pain in her side. It's not as bad now, I don't think. How long did Cait's dad give me? Two weeks?

I'll never make it. She groans into the darkness.

Almost as if in response, there is a clattering sound from Cait's room next door. She can hear voices murmuring, but it's too quiet to make out any words. She pulls herself upright, propping her back against the headboard and allowing herself one quiet gasp of pain as the fire in her wound dies down. Caitlyn can handle herself, she reminds her brain (or rather, tries to convince it.)

But what if...

Vi forces herself to take a deep breath, pushing away her thoughts. She's unwilling to see where they'll go if she lets her mind wander. She shifts her position slightly, before stiffening to listen for any more sounds. There are none. Breathing a sigh of relief, she settles down again.

She's fine. You're hearing things. 

But then there's shuffling in the corridor. And it's coming closer. 

Vi straightens her back again and brings her hands into a defensive position. At least I still got these, she thinks grimly, sparing a glance at her bandaged wound. As the footsteps draw closer, she steadies herself and clenches her fists, willing herself not to worry about Cait until the threat was dealt with. Even so, her heart is pounding out of her chest, the quickened beat pulsing in her  ears. That can't be healthy.

The door across the room creaks open. Come at me. Sweat is beading on her forehead. She exhales, steeling herself up for a fight. One in which she was at a considerable disadvantage, her side prickles to remind her. The familiar pre-brawl adrenaline rush courses through her veins, and she feels a little guilty upon realizing she had missed it somewhat.

Someone enters the room. Vi narrows her eyes and grits her teeth, before softening immediately as she beholds the sight in front of her.

It's Powder. She shuffles awkwardly. 'Hi.'

~~~

Vi has a lot of emotions at once. It's more than slightly overwhelming. Normally, when she has a lot of emotions, she beats the shit out of someone. This is not a situation where that is acceptable. Cait says it is not acceptable in most situations, and she's probably right, but it's an instinct for survival she learnt early, living on the rough streets of Zaun. She tries to pinpoint her strongest feelings.

Guilt, anger, worry... mostly relief.

Once she is a little more certain, Vi decides to speak. Once she starts, she can't stop. 'Powder, I'm so glad you're safe - If anything happened to you, I'd- I'd-'

She pauses. She's not sure what she'd do. Her sister breaks the silence.

'I'm sorry.' The words are small and quiet. It sounds like saying them is making Powder shrink in on herself. She stands in the doorway stiffly, not daring to come any closer. Her expression is unreadable.

More guilt. Confusion.

'What for?'

Powder looks thoroughly disconcerted at this. 'Don't play dumb,' she says bitterly. 'Last time I saw you, I put a bullet in your side. I don't want your pity, and I probably don't deserve it either.' She says the words as if they are simply a fact, something set in stone like nothing would change it. She sounds so... defeated, like she's given up on herself. Vi's heart clenches.

Guilt. Overpowering guilt.

She's not really sure what to say in this situation. So she shuffles up and pats the bed beside her, for Powder to sit. She eyes the spot suspiciously for a moment, hesitates for a moment longer, before perching herself awkwardly at the edge of the bed.

'So. Meeting Cait went well then?' Vi asks, looking for a lighter topic of conversation while Powder got comfortable. The other girl lets out an amused breath. 'I give you a heartfelt apology, and you start talking about your gal pal. Wow.' There's no ill intent behind the words - the dryness to Powder's voice shows clearly that they are sarcastic - but they still make the pit in Vi's stomach widen. 

'I guess I don't hate her. She hasn't locked me up in an asylum yet, so she's got that going.' Powder gestures animatedly as she speaks. Vi realizes how much she missed this, this easy, casual conversation between sisters late at night, no machine guns or rocket launchers or mechanical gauntlets involved. She missed Powder, more than anything.

'I think seeing Stillwater put her off prisons for good,' she responds. Powder nods, humming a small sound of approval as she stares off into the distance. Vi is acutely aware of how tense she is. A heavy silence falls between them, the air thick with unsaid words.

'You'd tell me if there was anything I could do, right?' Vi fidgets uncomfortably. The tension between them grows. Both determinedly avoid eye contact.

Powder doesn't reply.

'I just- I wish I knew how I could help. How I could fix things. I'm no good at feelings,' she continues. 'Better at fists.' 

This earns a dry chuckle from the other girl. 'Well, if I ever need someone to punch a schoolyard bully, I'll let you know.' She meets her gaze again, and reclines back onto the bed. There is another long silence, but it's more comfortable than the first.

'I don't know if we're fixable,' Powder confesses.

'I hope so,' Vi responds solemnly. 'I don't want to fight anymore. Well, not with you, anyways. I wouldn't mind a round three with Sevika.' 

Another dry laugh. It was a nice laugh. Vi would like to hear it more. She promises to herself that she will hear it more.

'Invite me this time.'

~~~~~

Author's note: This was difficult to write because I was determined to Give Jinx Nice Things (tm). Thus, I spent longer than usual on it as I was fighting my writerly urge to create soul-crushing angst. I hope this chapter was worth the wait though lol